Happy almost Mother’s Day! Share a parenting moment where you really began to realize what this mothering thing is all about.
Big Cheese and I had been apart since Thing Two was 4 weeks old. There I was, trying to breast feed a newborn and ripping her off my breast to go rescue Thing One from falling off a couch he had climbed. I cried on the floor along with my babies that morning. Not just from the burning pain in my breast, but because I was alone with two very young children. It felt surreal, because my plan never included being alone. Yet there I was crying along with both of my babies wondering if I would ever get through this moment. I vowed never to be alone with them. Mami was always there to help out with Thing One. She kept him entertained while I breast fed, or focused attention on my very newborn Thing Two. When venturing out I always had a friend, a family member, or Mami to help when Thing One would wander off aimlessly as I tried to put Thing Two in her car seat.
August 2009, was when Thing One turned two. He had been watching Nick Jr. and a song about the beach came on. He was hyper focused and would talk incessantly about the beach and how he wanted to go. A mother will do anything for her children who was I to say no. On his birthday I planned to take him to a local beach that was kid friendly called "mother's beach". It is more of a bay than anything, but they have life guards, and plenty of play things for small children. I asked Mami to go with me, but she has never been a lover of walking in sand and her mobility was a concern to her. It was a weekday, which meant all of my friends were working. Only one thing to do at that point, go with the children by myself.
I packed up the car, planned every minute of that day. How do I keep them safe? What if something happens, what is my plan of action? Self talk that came up a lot: "Breathe, you can do this, it is what Thing One has been looking forward to".
There were moments in the day when I thought I was going to lose it. Like when Thing Two toppled over in the sand while sitting and got it in her face. In the mad rush to wash her off, Thing One decided to throw a tantrum and not want to go to the water. I must have looked like a mad woman dragging a screaming toddler and carrying a crying baby. Then there was the moment that while in the water Thing One slipped under the shallow water and I couldn’t get his little hand fast enough to pull him up. The look on his face was of fear and relief at the same time. I recognized that look on him because that is how I had felt most days since Big Cheese had been gone.
Woo Hoo! Let's hear it for tantrums!:
At the end of the day I had a happy Thing One and we all survived our first outing with just the three of us. When I sat down and thought of it all I realized I could do this single mom thing. Is it hard? By all means YES! Could I do this alone? YES!
When your a mother, there is no time to fear or to doubt. Sometimes you just have to face those fears that lay inside your mind and do what your heart is telling you to do for those you love the most. It means sacrificing and growing. That day I knew that despite my support system, I could raise these children and that all would be ok, even if it didn't seem like it at that moment.
I am glad I went through that moment to become a better mother, and to tackle my fears. Since then The Things and I have gone on to many adventures together, just the three of us. No more crying on the floor.
The joy that will forever be burned in my head that day:
Happy Mothers day to all my fearless moms.
What was your "mom" moment?
Inspiring me to write my life story:
